Container supporting rack



Dec. 15, 1959 R. w. BEALL, JR 2,917,184

CONTAINER SUPPORTING RACK Filed July 2, 1956 [:D 46 v IN VEN TOR. J flaw/W0 72185-7144,

United States Patent CONTAINER SUPPORTING RACK Richard W. Beall, Jr., Hermosa Beach, Calif., assignor of one-half to Linden H. Chandler, Lomita, Calif.

Application July 2, 1956, Serial No. 595,152

9 Claims. (Cl. 211-81) so dispo'sed, hold rectangular containers in either an upright or inverted position in such a manner as to permit manual removal thereof one by one from the rack as desired.

The primary purpose in devising the present rack is to supply a device in which a number of substantially rectangular containers may be supported from a wall surface in such a position that the contents of the containers can be dispensed therefrom through depending valve mechanisms that are removably mounted onthe fiuid-dis charge openings of the containers.

-A major object of the present invention is to supply an inexpensive rack of simplified structure that may readily be fabricated from wire, and one that may be removably mounted on a smooth vertical surface with a minimum of effort.

Another object of the invention is to supply a container-holding rack that is particularly well adaptedto be formed from wire and may be manufactured by use of relatively few production tools, whereby it can be retailed at a sufliciently low price as to encourage its widespread use.

A still further object of the invention is to supply a rack that is particularly adapted for removably supporting liquid-holding rectangular containers in such positions that liquid can be dispensed therefrom by the use of my valve mechanism shown in phantom line in Figure 1, and as disclosed and claimed in my pending application Serial No. 583,090.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a rack that removably supports one or more liquid-holding containers in an inverted position at a desired location on a wall structure in such a manner that at least one exterior side wall of each container is forwardly exposed whereby all or a po'rtion of the label or other identification means carried thereon is visible and the trademark or other identifying insignia indicating the origin of the contents, or directions for their use may be easily read.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof and from the accompanying drawings illustrating that form, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rack showing the manner in which two rectangular liquid-holding containers are supported in an inverted position therein;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the rack and liquid containers, showing the manner in which the rack is removably atfixed to a vertical wall surface;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the device, showing a portion thereof pivoted forwardly and downwardly to permit removal of one of the containers therefrom;

Figure 4 is a top plan and cross-sectional view of a portion of the invention taken on line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of an end portion of the device taken on line 5--5 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing for the general arrangelower portion of frame A, with the cage being removably held in a fixed position relative to frame A by engaging members E formed on the'upper rearward portion thereof. Pivo'tal movement of the cage D in a forward and downward direction is limited by elongate, generally U-shaped stop members F that are closed on the forward ends, and the support C is disposed within the co'nfines of the members F.

In detail, the frame A is formed from two vertically positionable end pieces 10 and 10' of identical construction' which are preferably fabricated from wire, and each of the pieces is bent or otherwise formed to define eyes 12, 14, 12' and 14', respectively. End pieces 10 and 10 are joined at the upper and lower portions thereof by cross pieces 16 and 18, which are rigidly aflixed thereto, as by welding, brazing, or the like, and the cross pieces are also preferably fabricated from wire of substantially the same gauge as that of end pieces 19 and 10'. The eyes 12, 14, 12 and 14' are of such size as to slidably receive screws 20 therethrough, which screws are engageable with a vertical wall surface 22, as may best be seen in Figure 2, to removably support the rack therefrom.

The supports C are generally triangular in shape and identical in construction. One of the supports C is fabricated from wire and includes a horizontal-1y disposed leg 24, from the outer end portion o'f which a second leg 26 extends downwardly and rearwardly. Support C also is fabricated of wire and includes two legs 24' and 26 of the same structure as the legs 24 and 26. The rearward end portions of the legs 24 and 24' are welded or other wise afiixed to the upper portions of the end pieces 10 and 10', respectively. The lower end portions of legs 26 and 26 are likewise welded or otherwise afiixed to the lower portions of end pieces 10 and 10', respectively, slightly above the eyes 14 and 14'. H

A' rectangular reinforcing frame 30 is provided that has two side walls 32 and 34 that are joined by end pieces 36 and 36. The reinforcing frame 39 extends across legs 24 and 24' of the supports C and C, and is rigidly aflixed thereto by tack welding, or the like.

Cage D is fabricated from an upwardly disposed cross piece 40 and lower cross piece 42, with the two cross pieces being rigidly connected on their end portions by two elongate end members 44 and 44' that are preferably formed from wire or like material. The end members 44 and 44' are provided with rearwardly projecting ex tensions 46 and 46' that terminate in eyes 48 and 48, and these eyes are pivotally mounted on cross piece 18. The upper end portions of members 44 and 44' terminate in upwardly disposed, rearward'ly projecting extensions 50 and 50' which develop on their rearward end portions into short downwardly extending portions 54 and 54', the forward edges of which are adapted to removably engage member 30, as shown in Figure 1. Portions 54 and 54' develop on their lower portions into rearwardly extending arms 56 and 56 that terminate in eyes 58 and 58. The eyes 58 and 58' may be conveniently used as handles to disengage extensions 50 and 50 from contact with member 30 and thus allow the cage D to pivot from the po'sition shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3.

The stop members F and F are identical in construction and include two elongate legs 60 and 62 that are joined at their inner ends by a curved portion 64, with the outer ends of the legs being welded or otherwise rigidly affixed to the member 44, as may best be seen in Patented Dec. 15, 1959 by portions 64 and 64 of the stop members when they engage the legs 26and 26, as shown in Figure 3. The containers G are inserted into the rack by disposing the cage D in the forwardly tilted position shown in Figure 1 3f After the receptacles G are inserted into the cage between the lower cross piece 42 and upper cross piece 40, the lower portions of the containers are moved rearwardly until they rest on the cross piece 42. In. this position (Figure 3), the forward face of the containers G are resting against the interior portions of the cross piece 40. By pivoting the cage D inwardly from the position just described, the cage is caused to assume the position shown in Figure 2 wherein the portions 54 and 54 removably engage the side member 34 of the reinforcing frame 30. i

The rack when thus disposed normally holds the containers G in vertical positions, and in such positions that liquid can be dispensed through valves H that are removably affixed to the liquid discharge openings I normally provided in such rectangular containers G. It is common on such containers to provide a U-shaped handle K on the top portion thereof, but it will be seen that when containers G are inverted as shown in Figures 2 and 3, they are so arranged relative to the rack that the handle is disposed forwardly from the cross piece 42and in no way interferes with the containers rigidly held'in the rack (Figures 1 and 2). Likewise, handles K do not interfere .with easy removal of the containers from the rack as they are disposed forwardly of the cross piece 42 (Figure 3).

The use and operation of the above-described rack have been set forth in detail and need not be repeated herein.

In illustrating the invention, two rectangular liquidholding containers were shown as disposed in the rack. However, the number of containers that may be so held is optional, and any number of containers may be disposed inthe rack by fabricating the rack to such length as to accommodate same.

Although'the form of the invention herein shown and described is fully capable of achieving the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to' be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment thereof and that I do not mean to limit my self to the details of construction here: in shown and described other than as defined in the append cl I claim:

1. A device for removably supporting in. elevated in, verted positions a plurality of rectangular liquid containers having projecting discharge necks in the tops thereof through which liquid can be discharged by grave ity when said containers are so supported, including: a frame that can be disposed in an elevated position; two supports extending outwardly from the end portions of Stop member F is identical in construction to said frame; a wire cage comprising a lower cross piece on which said inverted tops of said containers can rest and an upwardly disposed cross piece that engages the forwardly disposed side Walls of said inverted containers, which upper cross piece is so spaced that said containers can be inserted in or removed from said cage from the lower portion thereof when said cage is pivoted forwardly and downwardly to a fixed position; means that pivotally support said cage from said frame, said cage when so supported being adapted to be moved in a fixed path relative to said frame and supports; means that prevent;-

forward pivotal movement of said cage beyond said fixed position; and means for locking said cage in a second position in which said cage cross pieces hold said containers in inverted substantially vertical positions.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said frame is formed of stiff wire and is generally rectangular in configuration and has a horizontal cross piece formed as a part thereof that extends between the lower portions of said supports, which supports are eyes provided;

on said cage that pivotally engage said cross piece.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said supports are fabricated from stiff wire.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which said supports are of a generally triangular shape, and are pro vided with horizontally disposed leg portions.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 in which elongate reinforcing means extend between said supports.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 in which said means for preventing pivotal movement of said cage beyond said first position is an elongate generally U-shaped member, the laterally separated extremities of which are-at:

fixed to said cage, which U-shaped member defines an elongate space wherein a portion of one of said sup-,

ports is positioned, said U-shaped member being for: wardly movable relative to said support portion until a position is reached at which the rearwardmost part of said U-shaped member contacts said support portion.

7. A device as defined in claim 5 in which said locking means is an engageable member afiixed to said cage,

with said member capable of removably engaging said reinforcing means.

8. A device as defined in claim 5 in which said rein forcing means is at least one rigid wire.

9. A device as defined in claim 5 in which. said re.

inforcing means is a rectangular wire frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

